Charles de Ganahl

Longtime Nebraska and Colorado cattle rancher Chuck de Ganahl passed away April 10, 2011, at the age of 83 in his winter home in Mesquite, Nev.Chuck was born in New York City on Aug. 30, 1927. He was the son of Naval Reserves Cdr. Joe de Ganahl and Josephine Coombs de Ganahl. Chuck’s early years were spent in McLean, Va., and Sitka Island Naval Air Station in Alaska. He was a 1945 graduate of Juneau High School in Alaska. In early 1945, Chuck skipped his upcoming graduation ceremony and enlisted in the Navy.While living in Juneau, Chuck met the love of his life, Patricia Hogue. They were united in marriage Aug. 30, 1947. To that union were born five children: Joe, Clay, Nancy, Christopher and Hank. In 1949 Chuck graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in journalism. From 1949 until 1954, he worked as a reporter for the Albany Democrat Herald and The Denver Post.In May 1954, Chuck and Pat entered the ranching business. Originally with his sister and brother-in-law, Virginia and Tom Russell, and later with the de Ganahl children, they owned and operated the Lazy EH Ranch near Yampa for the next 52 years. In 1978 the de Ganahl family ranching partnership expanded to Nebraska’s Sand Hills. At that time Chuck and Pat moved from Yampa to Lakeside, Neb., and lived on the Dennis Camp Ranch.Chuck is survived by his wife of 63 years, Pat; his sister, Virginia de Ganahl Kimmel; five children; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.The family will hold a memorial service at 11 a.m. June 11, 2011, at Lakeside Methodist Church in Lakeside, Neb.